What is a SQP? A complete guide to Suitably Qualified Persons
What is a SQP? A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) is a trained and registered professional who is legally authorised to prescribe and supply certain veterinary medicines while providing expert advice on animal health, welfare, and responsible medicine use.
SQPs play an important role in helping animal owners make informed decisions about the care of their pets, horses, farm animals, and birds. They are qualified to recommend appropriate treatments, advise on safe administration of medicines, and recognise when an animal should be referred to a veterinary surgeon.
If you need advice on wormers, flea treatments, tick control products, supplements, or certain other veterinary medicines, they can also help you choose the most appropriate product for your animal’s needs.
In short: an SQP is a trusted animal health professional qualified to provide expert guidance on veterinary medicines and animal welfare.
What Does SQP Mean?
SQP stands for Suitably Qualified Person.
They are sometimes referred to as Animal Medicines Advisors because of their specialist knowledge of veterinary medicines and animal health.
To become qualified, individuals must successfully complete approved training and register with an approved registration body such as Vetpol and commit to ongoing CPD (Continuous Professional Development – training).
What Can an SQP do?
They are qualified to:
- Prescribe POM-VPS veterinary medicines
- Supply NFA-VPS veterinary medicines
- Advise animal owners on safe medicine use
- Recommend appropriate parasite control programmes
- Promote responsible use of veterinary medicines
- Support animal health, welfare, and preventative care
- Refer animals to a veterinary surgeon when necessary
The medicines they supply commonly include:
- Dog and cat flea treatments
- Dog and cat wormers
- Rabbit medicines
- Horse wormers
- Farm animal wormers
- Vaccines
- Nutritional supplements
- External parasite treatments
These products will be labelled POM-VPS or NFA-VPS.
What Veterinary Medicines can an SQP supply?
Veterinary medicines in the UK are divided into legal categories which determine who can prescribe or supply them.
POM-VPS Medicines
POM-VPS stands for:
Prescription Only Medicine – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person
These medicines can be prescribed by:
- Veterinary Surgeons
- Pharmacists
- Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs)
POM-VPS medicines are commonly used in horses and food-producing animals and require professional assessment before supply.
NFA-VPS Medicines
NFA-VPS stands for:
Non-Food Animal – Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person
These products are typically used for:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Other non-food producing animals
They can only be supplied by qualified professionals who provide appropriate advice and safety information.
Why Are SQPs Important?
These trained professionals bridge the gap between animal owners and veterinary professionals by ensuring medicines are supplied responsibly and safely.
They help:
- Improve animal health and welfare
- Prevent inappropriate medicine use
- Reduce medicine wastage
- Support responsible parasite control
- Ensure legal compliance
- Protect public health and the environment
They are trained to understand when veterinary intervention is needed and when referral to a vet is the best course of action.
Where do SQPs work?
They work throughout the animal health industry, including:
- Pet shops
- Agricultural merchants
- Saddlers
- Online veterinary pharmacies
- Veterinary practices
- Feed merchants
- Equine businesses
- Farm enterprises
Wherever they work, SQPs provide expert advice and outstanding customer service to animal owners.
Types of Qualification
SQPs can qualify in one or more specialist sectors:
Companion Animal
Covers:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
Equine
Focuses on:
- Horse health
- Parasite control
- Equine management and welfare
Farm
Covers:
- Dairy Cattle
- Beef Cattle
- Sheep
- Pigs
Avian
Includes:
- Poultry
- Game birds
- Other avian species
Many SQPs choose to qualify in multiple sectors to broaden their professional opportunities.
How Do You Become an SQP?
You must:
- Complete an approved training course, such as those provided by Vetpol
- Pass the required assessments.
- Register with an approved registration body, such as Vetpol.
- Meet ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
Vetpol helps you through every step of the way from start of studies to qualification and beyond.
One of the advantages of SQP training is that no formal qualifications are required before starting. The qualification is open to anyone aged 18 or over with an interest in animal health and veterinary medicines.
Study Online with Vetpol
Vetpol’s online SQP courses are designed to make qualification flexible and accessible.
Benefits include:
- 100% online learning
- Study at your own pace
- Online examinations
- Flexible assessment windows
- Expert tutor support
- Fast-track qualification options
- Approved registration pathway
Many students complete their qualification within 3 to 6 months while studying alongside work and family commitments. Registered Veterinary Nurses may complete Vetpol’s SQP Integration course and earn their place on the Vetpol Register in as little as 4 weeks.
” (The Vetpol course)..has been a great platform to learn and having the ease to take the course at my own pace has been wonderful, with exams in the same manner. It really helps with the stress and nerves that are normally sky high when taking exams. The support given is brilliant”
A.P., SQP student in Companion Animal, Equine, Farm and Avian
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
All registered SQPs are required to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year.
CPD ensures these registered professionals remain up-to-date with:
- Veterinary medicine legislation
- New products
- Animal health developments
- Welfare best practice
- Professional standards
Ongoing learning helps maintain the high standards expected throughout their careers.
Why Choose a Vetpol SQP?
When you see a Vetpol SQP badge, you can be confident you are speaking to a trained professional committed to:
- Responsible medicine supply
- Excellent customer service
- Animal welfare
- Continuing professional development
- Professional ethical standards
Vetpol SQPs are recognised for their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to helping animal owners make informed decisions.
“Training to become an SQP has brought with it the ability to effectively assist customers seeking advice on the health and wellbeing of their pets and the licensed medications available to them.
Being an SQP is more than a job or qualification . It is about having a genuine passion to provide the best possible information to customers and care for their pets”
Paul Cartledge, SQP of the Year 2022, Jollyes The Pet People
Start Your SQP Qualification Today
Interested in becoming a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)?
Whether you want to work in a pet store, veterinary practice, agricultural merchant, online pharmacy, or equine business, an SQP qualification can open up rewarding career opportunities within the animal health sector.
Explore Vetpol’s online SQP courses today and take the first step towards becoming a Suitably Qualified Person.
” (The Vetpol course)..has been a great platform to learn and having the ease to take the course at my own pace has been wonderful, with exams in the same manner. It really helps with the stress and nerves that are normally sky high when taking exams. The support given is brilliant”
A.P., SQP student in Companion Animal, Equine, Farm and Avian
Employer? This is why you should invest in SQPs
If you are employer, thinking about training some of your team as SQPs, watch Caroline Johnson give 3 compelling reasons for employing SQPs in your business (EVEN if you don’t stock VPS medicines!).
